Manchester City have only lost one of their last 15 meetings with West Ham as Manuel Pellegrini’s team entertain the East Londoners at the Etihad in the Capital One Cup semi-final.

Jack Collison scored a second half winner for the Hammers at Upton Park in March 2009, but that is the only victory they’ve recorded over City since back-to-back wins in 2006. Sam Allardyce remains short of striking options, so West Ham fans shall fondly remember Dean Ashton’s brace during an FA Cup run to the final.

The Hammers are not much better off defensively either and come into this two-legged tie off the back of four defeats in their last five. Big Sam chose the FA Cup third round tie at Nottingham Forest to blood youngsters en masse – a move that resulted in a 5-0 thumping.

City are not sure themselves of a place in the next round of the world’s oldest knockout football competition. Blackburn battled back to force Pellegrini to a replay next midweek just when he was planning on taking the team out for some sun. Both Rovers and West Ham could easily succumb to City’s imperious home form.

Allardyce sees his Hammers sit second bottom of the Premier League, but have already knocked out London rivals Spurs out of the League Cup en route to making the final four. City’s run of seven straight wins may have been stopped last time out, but they remain hot favourites to advance here.

Team News

Spanish winger Jesus Navas has joined Stevan Jovetic and Jack Rodwell as absentees for City after he picked up a knee problem. Pellegrini revealed star striker Sergio Aguero and right back Micah Richards are both back in training. This game comes too soon for both, however.

Centre back Martin Demichelis returns to the City squad after four games out, but fellow defender Dedryck Boyata is banned. Yaya Toure could be back in the XI in midfield, yet keeper Costel Pantilimon should be benched after his error led to Blackburn’s equalizer.

West Ham are highly likely to hand Wolves loan capture Roger Johnson his debut straight away in the heart of defence. Fellow centre halves Winston Reid (ankle), James Tomkins and James Collins (both groin) remain out. Several first-team players that were rested for the trip to Forest will return.

Hammers captain Kevin Nolan serves the second game of a three-match ban, but there is a small chance midfielder Mark Noble could comeback from a calf problem. Forward Ricardo Vaz Te is still struggling with a shoulder injury whilst record signing Andy Carroll is still a week away from returning to the squad.

Newcastle United are lining up an audacious bid for Manchester City’s Micah Richards in January, according to the Daily Mail.

Toon boss Alan Pardew is a big admirer of the 25-year-old, who has yet to sign a new deal at the Etihad despite being offered a fresh contract over the summer.

The England right-back wants assurances over his place in City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI before putting pen to paper on a proposed four-year deal.

Richards has been rotated alongside Pablo Zabaleta on the right by Pellegrini this season, making just two appearances, one of which included the surprise start against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The defender can also play at centre-back, but City boss Pellegrini has preferred to limit him to his usual role as a fullback.

Richards is thought to be happy with competing with Zabaleta for a starting role, and is paid around 65,000-a-week to do so, but Newcastle could offer a significant financial incentive to move to St James’ Park.

Richards endured a torrid campaign last season, missing most of it through injury, and is desperate for first team football this term as he aims to get himself back in contention for the England side.

The post Newcastle Transfer News: Magpies To Make January Bid For Micah Richards? appeared first on WhatCulture!.

Team News

Manchester City continue to be without captain Vincent Kompany for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, but there is some hope for Matija Nastasic (knee), who made the bench at QPR in midweek. Javi Garcia has so far deputised for the centre-half.

Brazilian Maicon has returned to training and could soon return, while Micah Richards (knee) could be back by the end of this month.

Mancini is also without brothers Yaya Tour and Kolo Tour who are still on international duty for the African Cup Of Nations.

New signing Philippe Coutinho will not be in the squad for the City game, as he has briefly returned to Milan after Wednesday’s switch from Inter and will not return until next week. Joe Enrique is likely to start having returned from injury in midweek. Flanagan and Kelly both remain sidelined by knee injuries.

Match Preview

Brendan Rodgers might find his position a little more questioned than it has been to date, after the humiliation against Oldham in the FA Cup last week, plus the surrender of two points against Arsenal a few days later. They face the difficult prospect of a Man City team looking to push themselves on, as well as the daunting stats that they haven’t beaten a top ten side so far this season, and came away from the Etihad the last two times with 3-0 defeats.

A draw is likely to help neither team in their respective quests for points, with City in particular in dire need of the maximum to close the ten point gap that has appeared at the top of the table. Hopefully that means attack, attack.